Portable levee system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an apparatus for filling a tubular bag with a granular material in order to construct a levee. The apparatus includes a hopper for funneling material into a loading box. A ram drive system then forces the granular material from the loading box into a tubular bag. The force of the ram also serves to propel the apparatus away from the filled bag so that the apparatus does not require a drive unit. The tubular bag is a pleated design installed around the opening of the loading box so as to extend as loaded. The apparatus can be scaled to accept different size bags to create levees of different heights and lengths.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/837,897filed May 3, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/467,386 filed on May 2, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject of this invention relates to the construction of barricadesand in particular, this invention relates to an apparatus and a methodfor quickly filling a resilient tubular structure with a granularmaterial to create a temporary levee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unexpected weather situations, environmental spills and erosion controlfrequently require the rapid deployment of a barricade system.Unexpected increases in water levels due to spring snow melts,hurricanes, heavy rains and flash floods create a need for the rapiddeployment of a material barrier to prevent property loss due to risingwater. Likewise, environmental spills of oil and other chemicals as wellas construction projects, which might induce hazardous run-off from abuilding site, require the creation of barriers to prevent the furtherspread of harmful agents in the environment. There is a need then for adevice capable of creating a quick temporary barrier in order to preventproperty damage.

Typically such barriers are built by hand using sandbags. Do to timeconstraints, these barriers are frequently filled by teams of volunteersand placed by hand in a line. In flood situation the barriers typicallyextend for hundreds of yards. For large barriers, filling the enormousnumber of sand bags required is a time consuming and backbreakingendeavor. A barricade of any length requires scores of workers and manyhours to complete. There is a need for a simpler way to create barriersor levees, which requires relatively few personnel, and by which asubstantial wall can be completed in less time than it takes for a crewof manual labor volunteers to arrive at the scene and begin filling sandbags.

For larger spills or flooding, earth-moving machines are frequently usedto build an earthen barrier. While less people are needed to performthis work, the granular fill used to form the barriers is unprotectedand subject to erosion from the very substances the barriers areintended to contain. Therefore, there is a need to create a larger sizebarrier that is protected from water or liquid so as to survive thecontact with the floodwaters or the spill material. Ideally, theprotective covering should provide some structure to the wall, which islacking in an earthen dam created by typical construction machinery.

There is a need then for a device which can rapidly create a barricade.The device should require minimal amounts of manpower to operate. Thedevice should create a barricade that is resistant to the affects of theenvironment. Moreover, it is desirable to have this device be reliable,efficient and less cost than the comparable manpower required to fillsandbags or run multiple pieces of heavy machinery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The levee builder system of the present invention substantially meetsthe needs as outlined above. The present invention is an apparatus forfilling a tubular bag with a granular material in order to construct alevee. The apparatus includes a hopper for funneling material into aloading box. A ram drive system then forces the granular material fromthe loading box into a tubular bag. The force of the ram also serves topropel the apparatus away from the filled bag so that the apparatus doesnot require a drive unit. The tubular bag is a pleated design installedaround the opening of the loading box so as to extend as loaded. It isunderstood that the tubular bag is only partially filled across itsdiameter, as ideally the filled tubular bag has a wider base then top asit extends from the apparatus. The apparatus can be scaled to acceptdifferent size bags to create levees of different heights.

In a first embodiment, the portable levee builder apparatus includes aloading box disposed to receive a granular material, the loading boxhaving a center retaining area, an upper portal, a first open side and asecond open side; wherein said first open side and second open sidedefine a passage through the loading box. The center retaining area ofthe loading box can have a rectangular shape or a cylindrical shape.

A hopper is disposed above the loading box for receiving and funneling agranular material through the upper portal into the center retainingarea. The hopper is preferably sized to accommodate a standard bucketload from a skid steer sized loader although the hopper can be sized toaccommodate other loaders or conveyors. The hopper may include an augerdisposed to assist the granular material into the center retaining area.

A ram drive system engages the granular material in the center retainingarea. The ram drive system has a retracted position proximate the firstopen side and an extended position achieved after activation of a ramdrive beyond the second open side. The ram drive system includes a ramsupport structure, the ram drive, and a ram plate box attached to theram drive. The ram support structure is a tubular frame structure thatsupports the ram drive assembly and provides structure around theloading box. The ram drive may be a hydraulic unit or an auger unit. Theram plate box has an area slightly smaller than the passage defined bythe first open side and the second open side of the loading box. The ramplate box includes an upper face or hopper plate disposed relative theupper portal so that granular material cannot fall behind the ram platebox when the ram plate is in the extended position. It is envisionedthat the apparatus will include a control unit for activating the ramdrive system when the center retaining area is sufficiently filled withgranular material. The control unit may further include a sensor forautomatically activating the ram drive system when the center retainingarea is filled with granular material.

A levee bag mount is also disposed about the second open side, saidlevee bag mount having a horseshoe shape over which a folded levee bagis placed. The levee bag mount of portable levee builder may includeretaining clips to hold the levee bag in place.

The portable levee builder apparatus may further include a hitch systemfor positioning the portable levee builder proximate a beginning pointfor the retaining structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a levee builder in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top phantom view of the levee builder of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a discharge end of the leveebuilder of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the levee builder and a bag of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The levee builder 10 is depicted in the FIGS. 1-4. The levee builder 10generally includes hopper 12, loading box 14, ram drive system 16, bagfeeder 18 and levee bag 20. Hopper 12 is of a conventional invertedhollow frustum shape having a rectangular shaped upper opening 22 and asmaller rectangular shaped lower opening 24 connected by four angledsides. The upper opening 22 of hopper 12 is sized appropriately toaccept the introduction of sand or other granular fill material from thebucket of a front-end loader or conveyor (not shown). Hopper 12 issturdily constructed of, for example, aluminum or plate steel. It isfurther envisioned that hopper 12 may have a support structures, such asangle irons or rectangular tubing, disposed about the upper opening 22,lower opening 24 and at intermediate locations. Referring to FIG. 1,hopper 12 is located generally above loading box 14.

Loading box 14 is in communication with hopper 12 so that granularmaterial placed into hopper 12 will funnel, preferably via gravity, intoloading box 14. Loading box 14 is depicted herein as a quadrilateralstructure, however, loading box 14 may be cylindrical or any otherdesired shape and still remain within the spirit and scope of theinvention. Loading box 14 includes an upper loading box section 26 and aram section 28. Upper loading box section 26 is vertically disposedabove ram section 28 so as to allow for the unimpeded operation ofexpansion of bag 20 during filling operations. Ram section 28 is sizedto accommodate the operation of ram drive system 16. Ram section 28 ispreferably surrounded by ram support structure 30.

Ram drive system 16 generally includes ram plate box 32, hydrauliccylinder 34 and ram support structure 30. Hydraulic cylinder 34 isaffixed to ram plate box 32 at plate mount 36 and to ram supportstructure 30 at loading box mount 38. Ram support structure 30 ispreferably an open tubular metal frame construction formed in a shape tosupport ram section 28 at a first end and support the hydraulic cylinder34 at a second end. The height and width of ram support structure 30 islarger than the height and width of ram plate box 32 and the length ofram support structure is slightly longer than the combined length of thehydraulic cylinder 34 and loading box 14.

Hydraulic cylinder 34 is preferably of a double acting design, actuatedby a hydraulic pump system that can be incorporated into the leveebuilder 10 or can be supplied from an outside source such as a tractor.Preferably, the tractor or other source of hydraulics support is capableof supplying 2,000 lbs per square inch of hydraulic pressure andsufficient hydraulic fluid flow to cycle the ram plate box 32 at adesired rate.

Ram plate box 32 is constructed of metal of sufficient thickness andrigidity to withstand the hydraulic pressure needed to force thegranular material into levee bag 20. The outer dimensions of ram platebox 32 may be covered completely or in part by an ultra high molecularweight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or like material to provide for easysliding within loading box 14. UHMWPE also will prevent fouling of ramplate box 32 with wet or muddy fill. It is envisioned that an upper wallor hopper plate of ram plate box 32 will extend far enough so that whenram drive system is fully extended granular material will not be able tofall behind the ram plate box 32. It is further envisioned that ramplate box 32 is internally supported by cross beams 33 as shown in FIG.3.

Bag feeder 18 generally includes bag ring 42 and bag storage area 44.Bag ring 42 is operably connected to the open end of ram section 28 ofloading box 14. The open end of ram section 28 is at the opposite end ofloading box 14 from ram drive system 16. Bag ring 42 is preferablylocated adjacent to bag storage area 44. Bag storage area 44 provides aplace for levee bag 20 to be stored and feed from during the operationalprocess.

Bag storage area 44 preferably includes bag retainers 52. Bag retainers52 may include spring-loaded arms 53 which apply tension to a foldedlevee bag 20 attached to the bag ring 42. Preferably, bag retainers 52retain levee bag 20 at three points around the circumference of bag ring42 but other variations can be used. Bag retainers 52 apply springtension to the bag 20 to support it in place and allow it to unfold asneeded. Other bag retainers 52 can readily be imagined by those skilledin the art.

Levee builder 10 is supported on a movable carriage 48. Carriage 48preferably includes skids 50. Carriage 48 preferably provides a wide,stable platform for support of levee builder 10. Preferably, carriage 48includes three skids to allow the levee builder 10 to be slid over theground even in poor or irregular ground conditions, for example, mud.The levee builder 10 can be hauled and directed though application byhitch assembly 54 which is attached to ram support structure 30. Atractor or other mover can attach to hitch assembly 54 by a pin hitch 56or other comparable means of attachment.

Levee bag 20 may be of any desired dimensions and is formed from adurable material of sufficient tensile strength to withstand the weightof the enclosed granular fill. Levee bag 20 may be essentially anelongate tube that can be readily closed at either end. It is envisionedthat a commercially available silage bag with an eight-foot diameterwould be used in a first embodiment. Alternative embodiments may usethicker bags to increase the life of the levee.

In operation, levee builder 10 is delivered to a location at which it isdesired to build a levee. A folded or gathered levee bag 20 is installedover bag ring 42 into bag storage area 44 and secured by bag retainers52. Since levee bag 20 is typically open at both ends, a portion oflevee bag 20 is extended from bag ring 42 and the distal end of bag 20is closed off, for example, by tying.

Granular material such as sand, gravel or dirt is feed into hopper 12 bya loader. Ram drive system 16 is cycled back and forth by actuatinghydraulic cylinder 34. On the backstroke, ram plate box 32 is retractedallowing granular material to drop from hopper 12 into ram section 28 ofloading box 14. Ram plate box 32 preferably is constructed to include ahorizontal top plate or hopper plate, with a perpendicular section so asto close hopper 12 when ram plate box 32 is advanced thereby holdingadditional material in the hopper 12 and not allowing material to fallbehind ram plate box 32.

Ram plate 22 is cycled on the backstroke to allow granular material tofall from hopper 12 in the loading box 14. When loading box 14 is filledor partially filled with granular material, sand ram drive system 16 iscycled on a forward stroke thereby forcing the granular material outthrough bag ring 42 and into levee bag 20. This process both fills leveebag 20 with granular material, such as sand, and causes levee builder 10and the prime mover, if present, to be pushed away from levee bag 20.This causes the automatic feeding of a further length of levee bag 20from bag feeder 18. The cycle is repeated over and over again. In theprocess, levee bag 20 is rapidly filled with a large quantity ofgranular material and levee builder 10 is advanced away from the bag 20,in the process, creating a large self-contained levee in a very rapidand efficient fashion. When levee bag 20 is completely filled, levee bag20 is detached from levee builder 10 and the detached end of levee bag20 is closed. The process is then repeated by installing a new levee bag20 and operating the device 10 until the levee meets the requiredlength.

Alternate embodiments are envisioned in which the present invention canbe powered by a hydraulic ram driven by a gas engine and a hydraulicpump instead of the tractor or prime mover. The movement of the leveebuilder can be adjusted based on the terrain or job requirements. Theskids 48 could be substituted with wheels or rollers which may benecessary in swampy terrain. The levee builder 10 could be provided witha drive unit for self-propulsion by means of wheels or tracks operablycoupled to an engine.

The filling mechanism can also be designed to utilize other pieces ofhardware. An auger/conveyor with a dump loading box closer to the groundcould be installed to transport the granular material to the hopper ontop of the levee builder. It is envisioned that such a system wouldrequire that the auger/conveyor be rigidly attached to the levee builderwith skids or wheels under the dump loading box so that the entire unitadvances as one.

The hydraulic ram can also be replaced by an auger sized proportional tothe bag diameter. The granular material is placed in the loading box andthe rotating auger forces it into the bag. The auger could be powered byan attached motor or through the power take off of a prime mover. Theentire machine will move in reaction to the auger force on the baggedmaterial. Filling could also be accomplished through the use of a blowersystem or conveyor. However, such a device would only dump the granularmaterial. An external drive system would be required to propel thedevice away from the bag as it fills.

It is envisioned that all of the concept described above could beincorporated into a system sized for filling bags of smaller diameters.It is envisioned that the present invention would be invaluable forcreating soil erosion walls or containing product spills which mayrequire a barrier substantially smaller.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is,therefore, desired that the present embodiment be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made tothe appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicatethe scope of the invention.

1. A method for creating an earthen barrier resistant to erosioncomprising the steps of: (a) preparing a route for the earthen barrier;(b) delivering a portable levee builder to a first end of the earthenbarrier position, said portable levee builder having a loading boxdisposed on a movable carriage with two or more skids, a ram drivesystem having a ram plate box, a levee bag mount, and a hopper; (c)gathering an erosion resistant levee bag over the levee bag mount; (d)transferring an earthen material from a mobile loader to the loading boxof the portable levee builder by way of the hopper; (e) retracting theram plate box to a position proximate a first open side of the loadingbox such that the earthen material drops into a center retaining area,the center retaining area in communication with the hopper and with thelevee bag; (f) determining whether the center retaining area is full ofearthen material; (g) extending the ram plate box through the centerretaining area to a position proximate the levee bag, (h) forcing theram plate box against the earthen material within the levee bag so as toadvance the portable levee builder relative to the levee bag andungather levee bag material from the levee bag mount; (i) retracting theram plate box; (j) repeating steps (d) through (i) until the portablelevee builder has progressed to the end of the route for the earthenbarrier.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ram plate box includes ahopper plate extending from an upper margin of the ram plate box, saidhopper plate sized to block a hopper opening so that the granularmaterial cannot fall through hopper opening when the ram plate box isextended.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps ofclosing off a first open end of the levee bag.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising the steps of closing off a second open end of thelevee bag once the portable levee builder has progressed to the end ofthe route for the earthen barrier.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thestep of determining whether the center retaining area is full of earthenmaterial includes utilizing a sensor within the center retaining area.6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether thecenter retaining area is full of earthen material includes sizing thecenter retaining area to conform to the volume held by a skid steerbucket.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering theportable levee builder includes transporting the portable levee builderby moving a vehicle connected to the portable levee builder by a hitchassembly.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of filling theloading box with earthen material includes the step of engaging an augerto assist the earthen material into the center retaining area.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of filling the loading box withearthen material includes allowing gravity to assist the earthenmaterial in the center retaining area.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the steps of retracting and extending the ram plate box includeactuating a hydraulic cylinder by a hydraulic pump system supplying anhydraulic pressure.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step ofactuating the hydraulic cylinder by the hydraulic pump system supplyingthe hydraulic pressure includes garnishing the hydraulic pressure from atractor.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the earthen material includessoil, dirt and rock.
 13. A portable levee builder apparatus for rapidlycreating a levee structure, the portable levee builder apparatussupplied with multiple independent loads of an earthen material by amobile loader unit as the portable levee builder apparatus slides alonga levee path said apparatus comprising: a loading box disposed on amovable carriage having two or more skids so as to accommodate poorground conditions, the loading box adapted to receive the earthenmaterial, said loading box including a center retaining area, an upperportal, a first open side and a second open side; wherein said firstopen side and second open side define a passage through the loading box;a hopper for receiving and funneling the earthen material through theupper portal into the center retaining area; a ram drive system disposedto control the flow of earthen material into the center retaining areaand advance the portable levee builder apparatus away from a filledportion of a levee bag; and a levee bag mount disposed about the secondopen side, said levee bag mount having a horseshoe shape over which thelevee bag is gathered, said levee bag having a tube like shape when in afully extended position, wherein said ram drive system has a retractedposition proximate the first open side and an extended position distalto the levee bag mount so that extending a ram plate box to the extendedposition forces the earthen material beyond the loading box.
 14. Theportable levee builder apparatus of claim 13 wherein said hopperincludes an auger disposed to assist the earthen material into thecenter retaining area.
 15. The portable levee builder apparatus of claim13 wherein said ram drive system includes a ram support structure, a rampower unit, and a ram plate box attached to the ram power unit.
 16. Theportable levee builder apparatus of claim 15 wherein said ram supportstructure is a tubular frame structure which supports the ram power unitand provides structure around the loading box.
 17. The portable leveebuilder apparatus of claim 15 wherein said ram power unit is a hydraulicunit.
 18. The portable levee builder apparatus of claim 15 wherein saidram plate box includes a ram plate with a first side and an opposingsecond side, said second side including a ram drive mount, said ramplate having an area slightly smaller than the passage defined by thefirst open side and the second open side.
 19. The portable levee builderapparatus of claim 18 wherein said ram plate box includes a hopper platedisposed transverse to the ram plate so that earthen material cannotfall behind the ram plate box when the ram plate box is in the extendedposition.
 20. The portable levee builder apparatus of claim 13 whereinsaid levee bag mount includes retaining clips to connect the levee bagto the levee bag mount.
 21. The portable levee builder apparatus ofclaim 13 further including a hitch system for positioning the portablelevee builder proximate a beginning point for the levee structure.